Valedictories
25/11/2010
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (17:21): I will also be brief. I would just like to say that this has obviously been an amazing year for me in many respects, sometimes in a sad respect but most of the time in a very joyful manner. I would like to thank all the staff here, my staff, and dearly beloved friends, Megan and Sam, for their support and contribution to my growth in this year. To Mario, who always picks up everything that I seem to drop constantly and helps me get to the lift, even when I do not need help, it is much appreciated—and he puts my desk away because he is afraid that people will destroy it for some reason.
The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: Yes, you have to watch those schoolchildren!
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: We do. It is a very special desk, as we all know. It would not be here if I were not here; it would not be here if the staff of this council were not so willing to accommodate me. I have said many times before that the changes that have happened to this place are not just for me: they are for every person with a disability, which means that they have special mobility needs. I am very honoured to be the person who has helped to bring that issue to light, and I would like to thank all those people who made those changes happen so well and extremely quickly. I and the disability community are very grateful. As Jan so rightly said on one of my first days here, this is the people’s parliament, so all people should be able to access it equally, and that in itself is a big step. I look forward to making many more steps next year, and I thank you all very much.
